My insurer won't cover a Therabite device to treat trismus. Their coverage policy states the device is experimental and not proven LIKE TONGUE DEPRESSORS.
Has anyone successfully appealed a Therabite denial, or know of a less costly way to buy one out-of-pocket?
I'm down to 23mm and narrowing, and haven't even begun radiation. I need to get ahead of this, now. I'm using my daughter's old toddler spoons and can no longer even eat a banana the usual way.
Thanks for any help!
53
T3N2aM0 HPV+
5/26/13 discovered painless superball-sized lymph node in neck
6/26/13 DX SCC R palatine tonsil
7/16/13 TORS tonsillectomy & selective ND, mets to 2 nodes
9/3/13 Cisplatin and rads begin, tolerated 1.5 of 3 planned chemo doses
10/16/13 Treatment ends
Dec 13 Ulcer appears at surgery site
Jan 17 Biopsy -- no cancer!
Feb 17 CT/PET Scan lights up tonsil bed & nasal cavity, docs say probably inflammation, don't panic, rescan when ulcer subsides
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